Everett woman alleges prior harassment by assault suspect

EVERETT -- A woman who allegedly was assaulted by an Everett man until a bystander fired a gun in the air told investigators last month's attack wasn't her first run-in with the suspect.A few weeks before the Jan. 30 incident, the woman said Lewis Pace Jr. poured a bucket of cold water on her and later tried to dump a pot of boiling water on her. She said he had become more threatening after she turned down his advances. He began to accuse her of owing him money, according to the woman's statement to police.The latest encounter happened near the 3400 block of Broadway, court papers said. The woman was walking down the street when Pace, 48, reportedly began running toward her, screaming. Pace is accused of kicking and punching the woman until she fell down. He reportedly stood over her with a knife.She ran off and Pace allegedly chased her while waving the knife. A man who saw the assault fired his revolver in the air to stop the attack, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Laura Twitchell wrote.The woman fled, hiding out in a nearby apartment.Police arrived to find two men holding Pace down. There was a large folding knife sticking out of his jeans, court papers said.Pace told police that he had confronted the woman because she owed him money. He became angry and chased after her. He said she fell down and he hit her with a bag of laundry. He denied threatening her with the knife.Prosecutors recently charged Pace with second-degree assault. He remains in jail on $300,000.Court records indicate that he has prior convictions for robbery, drugs and disorderly conduct.Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

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